Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a mitochondrial disease most usually caused by point mutations in tRNA genes encoded by mtDNA. Here, we report on how this mutation affects mitochondrial function in primary fibroblast cultures established from 2 patients with MELAS who harbored the A3243G mutation. Both mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities and coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ) levels were significantly decreased in MELAS fibroblasts. A similar decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was found in intact MELAS fibroblasts. Mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with increased oxidative stress and the activation of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), which triggered the degradation of impaired mitochondria. Furthermore, we found defective autophagosome elimination in MELAS fibroblasts. Electron and fluorescence microscopy studies confirmed a massive degradation of mitochondria and accumulation of autophagosomes, suggesting mitophagy activation and deficient autophagic flux. Transmitochondrial cybrids harboring the A3243G mutation also showed CoQ deficiency and increased autophagy activity. All these abnormalities were partially restored by CoQ supplementation. Autophagy in MELAS fibroblasts was also abolished by treatment with antioxidants or cyclosporine, suggesting that both reactive oxygen species and MPT participate in this process. Furthermore, prevention of autophagy in MELAS fibroblasts resulted in apoptotic cell death, suggesting a protective role of autophagy in MELAS fibroblasts.

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This work was supported by Ministerio de Sanidad, Spain,
grants FIS PI080500 and FIS EC08/00076, and by Asociación de Enfermos de Patología Mitocondrial (AEPMI) and Fundación Española de Enfermedades Lisosomales (FEEL). M. de la Mata is
the recipient of a fellowship from Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Sevilla. This group was founded by the Centro de Investigación
Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto
de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).